Noah Clement Draper joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) on Nov 25, 1916 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Because the Canadian Navy was in its infancy, Noah served on British ships which lent confusion when figuring out his uniform. I am indebted to the Canadian Military Police Virtual Museum at mpmuseum.org for their very informative website. Through their use of images and text, we have a very good idea of what Noah wore on different occasions.

One of the problems I encountered while researching Noah's uniform was defining whether he enlisted in the RCNVR or RNCVR. Noah's Service Certificate shows that he joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR), but his records, as well as ships' logs, show he served on Royal Navy ships as a member of the Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve(RNCVR) (circled below in red) which was active from May 1914 until 1920.​

Portion of Noah Clement Draper's 1916 Service Certificate for RCNVR/RNCVR

I believe the following image was taken upon Noah's enrollment since it was the last time he saw his family until he was discharged on Mar 25, 1919. ​

Two things I'd like to point out on Noah's uniform are:

1. His cap ribbon has the inscription "R.N.C.V.R (crown) CENTRAL". (Options were PACIFIC and ATLANTIC)

2. The 3 wavy tapes on his denim collar signify him as a member of the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. (Royal Navy members wore straight tapes.​)

According to information provided on the mpmuseum.org site, Noah's uniform is a Class II Uniform "Square Rig" which consisted of a blue serge top called a jumper, bell bottom pants, and a navy flat cap, much like the Royal Navy uniform.

There's a very good chance that the following photograph is the one Noah mentions in his letter of February 26, 1917 while the H.M.S. Bacchante is in dry dock. In that letter which I'll post in good order according to sequence, Noah says, "I was over to Liverpool last night and had my photo taken am to get them tomorrow night am sending one in this letter I had taken in Chatham."​ With the information obtained at mpmuseum.org, I've made notes on his photo to show the particulars of this uniform. Note the straight tapes on his collar this time, and yet it's only been a couple months since enrollment and his rank hasn't changed.​

Feb 1917 - Ordinary Seaman Noah C. Draper, RNCVR

To further confuse us, we have the photo on the right which has been cropped from one that Noah had taken while touring England on one of his shore leaves.

Two things to note in this pic of Noah is that his:- cap tally shows RCNVR- collar tapes are wavy

I believe this photograph was sent home with his letter of Mar 10, 1918, because he mentioned having a photograph taken while standing in front of Bruce's Castle. In the same letter, he enclosed an ivy leaf which we still have.

I haven't been able to define the difference between RCNVR and RNCVR. Was it simply a designation that changed according to his ship?

Noah was also issued with Dress No. 6 for hot climates. This was a duck working uniform consisting of a jumper with blue RNCVR collar, silk handerchief, and knife lanyard. Headwear was the Sennet hat made of the straw-like sennet fiber.

Noah C. Draper, RCNVR 1916-1919

Since this week marks the observance of all those who served and especially those who lost their lives so that we can enjoy freedom, I thought it prudent to add Noah's memorial to this post as it shows the designation of his service.

Noah Clement Draper is buried in the ABRAY Field of Honour in Vancouver's Mountain View Cemetery in British Columbia. The photo was taken by his great-granddaughter, Crystal Anne Draper.​

On the 25th of November, it will be 100 yrs to the day that Noah C. Draper enrolled as a volunteer in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Nelson and I would like to honour his service by posting the letters he sent home to Ethel and his family. The letters are filled with as much information as the censors allow and show a remarkable life as a sailor connected with the British Navy.

My research has led to the actual ship's log which shows exactly where he was during his tour of duty - places he wasn't allowed to divulge 100 years ago when the wrong word could have given away his location and left his shift open to attack. Or worse.

Although I don't have the letters Ethel sent to Noah, we can see how she fared in the way he addresses her concerns and tries to advise from so far away.

Join us as we travel once again back in time, experiencing it through the eyes of Nelson's grandfather, Noah Clement Draper.

Note: Detailed descriptions of all the uniforms shown on this post can be found at mpmuseum.org and to whom I owe so much for sharing their knowledge. Thank you.

The Adams, SK house that Noah Draper built for Ethel Nelson in 1911 prior to their 1912 marriage. Photos courtesy of the Norma Draper Family Photograph Collection.

The Draper's house at Adam's, SK after enclosing the veranda in screens. Noah and Ethel's album says the front windows were blown out in the 1912 Regina cyclone.

In this week's letter, Noah's cousin George Draper comments that Noah probably witnessed the Storm from his place at Adams, SK. Although Ethel didn't mention it in her post card in last week's post about the June 1912: Regina's F4 Cyclone, they may have spotted something because the distance along the track from the C.N.R. station in Regina to the siding in Adams is an official distance of 13 miles (20 km).

Places/things mentioned in this letter or in the Genealogy Notes:- the storm - the 1912 Regina F4 cyclone I blogged about last week- a man engaged - the hired man

Cliches/Phrases- cuz - George signs the letter "your Cuz, Geo Draper"

Legend: * Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this person/place/thing. If you don't see a label, use the search box at the top of page.** see Genealogy Notes below

Keswick Sept 15th 1912

Mr. Noah Draper Grand CouleeDear Noah. Pretty near time I answeredyour Card July 12th. was glad tohear from you My was'nt thatCyclone desperate Suppose you couldsee the Storm from your place. Itwould certainly look fierce Stewart saidHe went & saw the ruins and isgoing to send me some pictures of itI got a letter from him on the 9th Septhas all his wheat cut & oatswithout Frost or Hail pretty Lucky I hopeyou escaped the same was yourcrops pretty Good this year. It dontseem long ago. since Iwas up there with you. driveing aroundthrough the wheat. How is Aunty

2I hope She is well. is She liveingwith you or Ethel Riglerwe are not through Harvest yet Barleyto Draw yet & some Peas to cut. & DrawPretty slow In Ont, Eh. But In order to havea crack shot He has to come fromNorth Gwillimbury and show Noah how totumble the Ducks. no doubt you have said to your self many times | ifIcouldonlyshootlike | George Draper |Iwouldgiveagooddeal | But youmay learn after a long time. ofcourse I showed you quite a Bit.I am going up at the Head of the BayeTomorrow to shoot a few Doz DucksCome along Noah and I will give youanother Lesson It is raining toBeat the Devil to Day we have had aDesperate lot of Rain this Summer.Come East this Winter and we will donothing but Fish I have a Man Engagedfor the Winter & I am going to FisheveryDay Come along I know Ethelwould like to come Home guess Edith& Frank are comeing for the Winterwrite me Noah soon With kind Regards to all In your Home your Cuz GeoDraper

Genealogy Notes

On Sep 23rd, 1908 George, 28 yrs old, bachelor farmer, married Eliza Alberta Hamilton, 23 yrs old, Spinster, daughter of David Hamilton & Priscilla Stevenson. George and Eliza both reside in North Gwillimbury, and both attend the Christian church.

The 1911 census finds George and Eliza living on the Draper Homestead near Keswick in the house where he'd been born, where his father Stephen Draper had been born, and where his grandfather Joel Draper Jr had worked the crown-deeded virgin uncleared land when York County was first being settled.

1911 Canada census showing George and Eliza living on the Draper homestead along with his parents, Stephen Draper and Martha Barnhart, and his unmarried sister, Edith.

I'm not sure where George's oldest brother, Charles J, is in 1911, but he'll eventually take over the family farm while the rest of the siblings headed west, returning to Ontario to spend the winters with family and friends.

In this letter, George mentions driving through the wheat fields with Noah and although he doesn't give a date, we can surmise he's talking about the trip he took west during the summer of 1911, partly because of this clipping:

The Newmarket Era. August 18, 1911 - pg. 6

George also mentions the 1912 Regina cyclone in his letter, and how he's waiting for pictures from his brother Stewart, who's renting a farm at Indian Head, east of Regina. I don't have Stewart's photos, but if you haven't looked yet, check out last week's post for images of the ruins.

1913 finds George heading west on a business trip. Perhaps the trip was to buy land?

The Newmarket Era. October 3, 1913 - pg. 6

I only make that assumption because a mere 4 months later, George and Eliza are preparing to move to Wolfe, Saskatchewan.

The Newmarket Era. February 13, 1914

By the time the special 1916 Western Canada census rolled around, George's sister, Almeda and her husband, James Edward Baker and their 2 children, Milburn and Ruby, had joined George and Eliza on their quarter section of land at Wolfe, RM of Reford, Saskatchewan.

It isn't until 1919 where we find the first mention of a child born to George and Eliza and that's thanks again to the newspaper back in York County:

The Newmarket Era. December 12, 1919 - pg. 2

George and Eliza named their son, Ernest David and there is no record of any siblings for him. I spent hours searching for Ernest. Thanks to the Sask Genealogical Society, I found obits for an Ernest and Lillian Draper who retired from farming in the same area and moved to North Battleford. Every matched ... until I realized it couldn't be George's son because this Ernest was born in the late 1800's in Wisconsin and not 1919 in Saskatchewan. What a letdown.

George, Eliza, and Ernest show up on the 1921 Canada census and I have newspapaper clippings of them for a few years after that, but then they fall off the radar. A very brief - too brief and sketchy - description is given in the Landis Record history Book, where it shows them renting the land and moving back to Ontario until 1950, and then spending the summers at Wolfe, and the winters in York County.

There's hope though because I still have Noah's WW1 letters to post and although we know where George and Eliza are during the war, I still have several years of Ethel's diaries from the 1940-50's left to go as well as a batch of letters which I glanced at but not made notes for. Hopefully somewhere in there is a clue to their whereabouts.

Of course, if you have any information about this family - pictures would be lovely - please help us fill in the blanks:

The above photo is one of several I scanned from the photo albums passed down from Ethel Nelson which now make up the Norma Draper Family Collection. I'm including the others in this week's Genealogy Notes below.

* Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this person/place/thing. If you don't see a label, use the search box at the top of page.** see Genealogy Notes below

Belhaven. P. O. Nov 12th 1911.

Mr N. C. Draper, Grand Coulee, Sask.

My Dear Noah, - Sunday is here onceagain, and say such a coldstormy day as it is. I think itmust be one of your North Westblizzards. We were up to SundaySchool this afternoon, and you wouldcertainly think the wind would blowyour head off. Would'nt be any lossif mine did go, be some body's gain for when they found it they'd think they had a pumpkin sure.Talk about blizzards. Indeed I wouldnt

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care a bit, if one would land you righthere on this farm. Hope something willbring you along soon, anyway. Six weekssounds much better than six monthsbut 6 days will sound ever so muchbetter "eh"I had a letter from Elva Mitchellon Friday, she spoke as thoughthey were going to stay with MrS Draper's this winter. Said theyhad been looking for you downbut that you never had come yet. Mr Walter Yorke is talking ofgoing West in the spring, Say's after he and Squire have been outthere two or three years they willown over half of the West. Hehas high ideal's "eh"

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We are not going to church to-nightI guess we. think we will be mostcomfortable here in the house. Christieis reading, "Bram Dick" to Pa & Maand Sadie is here with me reading"Pecks bad boy" Say! it certainly isa book worth reading, I read "Astrayin the forest" this forenoon. How is your face now? and did itprove to be much of a comforter, "ha ha" The mason's are coming to-morrow to put in Stable floorsand we certainly will be glad whenthe Stables are finished, for it certainlyis getting cold enough for to putthe stock in. Mary Smith is in Toronto now.A cousin of her's is to be married thismonth so of course she is to be at the wedding

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Now you never told me in yourlast letter. how Fanny was getting along. you must'nt forget to mentionher, for you know how anxious I amto hear about her. "ha ha", not her,but your the one I am anxious to hearfrom. Oh Noah if you were only here,we would forget all about the stormjust think though only five moreletters we will have to write, andthen the next Sunday insteadof writing we can just makeour tongues run "eh" I am afraidthere would'nt be any churchfor us, even if it was'ntstorming. I guess I must sayGood Bye for this time withlove and kisses from your Sweetheart. x x x x x x x E. Nelson.

Genealogy Notes

Ethel has mentioned her paternal cousin, Elva Jane Nelson, several times before in these courtship letters, but this is the first time I'm posting photos which I scanned from Ethel's albums. If you recall, Elva married Will Mitchell and are working on the Indian Head area farm of Stewart Draper, paternal cousin of Noah.

In this week's letter, Ethel says she received a letter from Elva saying her and Will were staying with Stewart through the winter and that they hadn't run into Noah yet. The 1911 Canada census shows William and Elva Mitchell living near Indian Head. This is confirmed in the Courtship Letter Special: July 15 From Elva Mitchell where Elva writes that "we only live 4 miles from the head."

The caption written in the album that holds the above photographs says "Elva and Ethel in the coulee, Swift Current." According to the 1916 and 1921 census records though, Elva and Will lived in Johnston Lake near Mossbank which is a couple hours east of Swift Current, and a couple hours west of the Grand Coulee/Regina area.

From reading Ethel's journals I know she had a penchant for travel. So it's quite possible Ethel & Noah, and Elva & Will had gone on a sightseeing trip to Swift Current. Especially since the back of this next photo shows them in Mossbank in 1926.

As you can see, I've added the names on the front of the image so it's easier to make them all out. Also note that Will and Elva's only child (that I can find so far) is Hannah Merle Mitchell who is standing between Laura Linstead Cain and Wesley Cain.

Ida Glover, Florence P Croutch, Mary Glover

Laura Linstead is Ethel's cousin as her mother, Ida Amelia, is sister to Mary Ann Glover who married William David Linstead.

Mary is the Aunt Mary mentioned in several of these letters who was living in Sintaluta, Saskatchewan in 1911, although they had only moved there from the Gwillimbury area in the past few years.

This photo on the right was taken at the Ida Glover & James Nelson house on Baseline Rd, Sutton West sometime in the 1940's. The back of the photo is written in Ethel's handwriting and it is one of the photos she passed on to her daughter, Norma.

Florence P was a mystery to me but after some time spent in research, I believe her to be Florence P Croutch, daughter of John Francis Croutch and Cordelia/Fedelia Cryderman of East Gwillimbury. Florence P is Ethel's 2nd cousin as they share a paternal great-grandfather George Caleb Croutch.

Legend: * Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this person/place/thing. If you don't see a label, use the search box at the top of page.** see Genealogy Notes below

Belhaven. P.O.15th Oct. 1911.

Mr N. C. Draper Grand Coulee. Sask.

Dear Noah I missed your letter lastnight, but Ill be looking for one to-morrow night. Well this is anotherfine Sunday. our rain storms seemto be staying away now for thislast two day have beenlovely. It rained all day Wednesdayand Morm Yorke was married toMinnie Traviss. Also Willie Sweetwas married to Laura Traviss. Soit was'nt much of a day for thewedding. , 'eh' Morm came home lastnight. and they certainly made things

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lively. Willie came home Wednesday.brought his bride up here to Elis'swhere I suppose she had to get herown supper. for there is no onetheir but Elis. Then they tried tofool the people by slipping out theback door and through the fieldsbut the ony followed them. "ha ha".Say. I hope you are having somefine weather by this time, forreally it must be very discouragingto think your grain is out in somuch rain.Quite a few of the boys have comehome from the West. Orville isnthere yet, but I hear he does'nt thinkmuch of it. George Draper is home soI hear, and I hear again that EdythDraper is to be married. Say! there isno end to the number of people that

are engaged around here. CarlMorton & Leslie Morton are engagedfor I hear. they are SecondCousins too.I got your card. But I believe either youor I failed to be at the Kings for wedidn't happen to meet one another "ha ha"I hope it is not long before will beable to meet some place anyway.How does Veda like going to College?Uncle Emanuel & Miss Hunt were herelast tuesday. Grandma & Grandpawwere here on Friday. & we had quitea visit with old people last week. OldJohn Prosser was here yesterday. Sayyou remember him dont you. everything is the fool. or the brute. "ha ha"Hello. here I am again. I beenaway for a little while. butbad pennies are sure to return. We have been to Sunday School& home with Mahoney's for tea

had a lively old time. We walkedup to church, & home again. andhere is where I land first of all.Our church was nearly full to-nightSo many young people were there fromKeswick. We were late so did nt allgo up in the choir.Oh! say I wish you were only startingdown here to-morrow. I'll be gladwhen you get all that work of yoursdone. I think you had better leave someand let me help you. for that is justwhat I want to do. "We two'. work togetherall alone by ourselves. I think youmust be doing to-much, wait for memy good old boy.Oh I wish your home was right nearhere some where. so I could see youoftener. I wonder whats the use ofmy wishing so much. I think I hadbetter stop for this time. Iclose with Love & xxxxs Your Sweetheart Ethel forever.

Genealogy Notes

Genealogy Note #1: Norman Yorke

I knew Ethel had mentioned Norman Yorke and Minnie Traviss before, but when I went searching, I kept coming up with Morin York because that's the way Ethel had written it. Even in this week's letter she writes, "Morin Yorke was married to Minnie Traviss." Here are other letters mentioning Norman:

I wonder if it's just a habit for Ethel to write Morm instead of Norm? Regardless, I found this snippet in the era about the happy occasion:

The Newmarket Era. October 20, 1911

Mr. Norman Yorke of Belhaven andMiss Minnie Traviss were married atNewmarket on Wednesday last. Wewish them every happiness.

Genealogy Note #2: Shivaree or CharivariA shivaree is an old-fashioned way to welcome a the newly married. Friends and relatives surround the newlyweds' house when they think the couple has gone to bed and then make as much ruckus as possible with all kinds of noisemakers. Sometimes this keeps up for hours before the newlyweds invite them in for some refreshments. Most newlyweds try to sneak away.

In this week's letter, Ethel writes... Then they tried to fool the people by slipping out the back door and through the fields but the ony followed them. - Ethel's words are verbatim - as if she was trying to write the words so fast her fingers couldn't keep up to her thoughts.

The second pararagraph of this hard-to-read snippet talks about the shivaree for Norman Yorke & Minnie Traviss, and also Willie Sweet & Laura Traviss:

A couple of young men left us onWednesday, and returned after a shortabsence with their wives. Congratu-lations. The young people of this vi-cinity with various instruments, suchas dinner bells, cow bells, plow coul-ters and tin pans, gave them livelymusic on the nights of their arrival.

The Newmarket Era. October 20, 1911

This charivari is from Nov 26, 1926 and the newly married couple is Edith Draper who is often mentioned in Ethel's letters. Edith had health problems as a youth and married William Crowder later in life, but that didn't stop the 'boys' from welcoming them home. And if you notice, after they were done with Edith and William, they went to 'pay their respects' to the next newlyweds.

The Newmarket Era Nov 26, 1926

Writing this post about the charivari reminds me of my tour at the Canadian Armed Forces Base in Cold Lake, Alberta back in the early 80's because we encountered something similar.

I remember that my parents were visiting and it was the first time they ever came for Christmas so I was trying very hard to show my best front. But around 11 pm a day or two after Christmas, several people showed up outside our door and living room window - singing and yelling for us to let them in. We did because it seemed quieter that way. So in they came and we offered refreshments. They sang carols, etc, and then when we encouraged them to go, they said we had to go with them because that's how it went.

As their admonitions grew, we realized the only way to get them out was to go with them and since my parents were there in case our daughter awoke, both Nelson and I went with the crowd. I can't say I enjoyed the experience because some people - all co-workers - just didn't want to get up and let us in, but the partyers insisted until the lights came on and we were invited inside. We corralled our hosts as we went along so the crowd grew with every house call until we finally escaped and headed home around 4 am.

The next day, I tried to explain to my parents this Christmas charivari-like tradition, but I can't say they were impressed. If I remember correctly, only one of us went the following year while one stayed back, and I don't remember ever being bothered by anything like it since. My parents never came back for Christmas, either.

If you google shivaree or charivari, you'll find all kinds of stories including several that turned into murders, etc. At times, it's a fine line between a charivari and a riot depending on who's doing the 'music' and who's doing the running.

Places/things mentioned in this letter:- *Newmarket - largest town between Belhaven and *Toronto- Markham *Fair - Markham, Ontario - near *Toronto- Beechnuts- Song - I Love You Only- Hymn - Nearer, Still Nearer - Lyrics and Midi available here.

Cliche/Phrase- hustle - seems to be a favorite word of Ethel's

Legend: * Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this person/place/thing. If you don't see a label, use the search box at the top of page.** see Genealogy Notes below

Belhaven. P. O. 8th Aug. 1911.

Mr N. C. Draper, Grand Coulee, Sask.

My Dear Noah, - Well another Sunday ishere, and say it is a much differentday that last Sunday. it is just abeautiful day. the sun is so nice andwarm. Friday was a dredful dayrained, hailed & snowed of coursethe snow didnt stay on at all. butlately it just seems to rain everyother day. We were all back in thebush this forenoon, looking for somebeech nuts. but we didnt get a one.We had a good walk anyway.

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Harold Winch is home. came onFriday morning. The West certainlyseemed to agree with him. It wasquite a surprize to his people when hewalked in. Adele was telling me lastnight up at choir practice about Haroldbeing at your place. said he had a finetime.I was down to New market yesterday. Isaw your Uncle Frank Terry there too.I am thinking of going down in a couple of weeks to stay over Sunday.Well Noah you said you thot I musthave found some one else that had changedmy mind. But I don't think there is any one else living for me. Perhaps there is for you though. I guess you have often heardthe song. (I love you only". and for me the"you" is to be emphasised for I am sureyour the only one in my eyes. So nowthe rest lies with you. Oh Noah, if you were only here.

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We are going up to S.S. and Mary Smith iscoming home with us to practice. she &Sadie are going Duet to-night. - "NearerStill Nearer: They'll do-it won't they.Della Mahoney is away on a couple ofweeks visit. and Stanley & Mae drovedown to Markham Fair Friday & hav'ntreturned yet. I guess they must begetting married "eh: Norm Yorke is toMarried a week from Wednesday. so I hearMr Stacey, a student, is to be at Belhavento-night.Say! what is it you, get your lectrises overyou might tell me and then maby Icould sympathise with you. unless itis some thing awfully bad. and I knowits not so bad as that. I tell you I caughtit on Saturday. i met Gertie Glover andshe flew into my wool. She didnt knowany thing about you and me until that day. shesaid she was told after she got to New market.

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Well "Evergreen Farm" was certainlyalive yesterday. Mr Wm King had LadiesAid. Did your place have your placenamed when you were here.I am awfully glad your grain is turningout as well as you think it is.Noah hustle up your work and sendme a letter saying you are comingEast (Such & Such a time) and there'llbe one happy girl, if ever there was one.You speak of getting lone some, but reallyI simple don't hardly know what I am doing some times. I got your letter lastnight, it seems like a long time fromthe time I get one until the next onecomes. There's never one comes before Iam ready for it. The girls are hustlingme up to get ready for Sunday School.I am neare a close for this time anyway.So bye-bye with all love & xxxxx from Your Loving Sweetheart Ethel

Genealogy Notes

Genealogy Note #1 - Mary Smith

Ethel has mentioned Mary Smith several times during the course of these letters, including the time that Mary was visiting Huntsville during Ethel's holiday there. So who was Mary Smith other than a school friend and neighbor?

Once again I used the Search pattern that I used last week (and other weeks) as well as below when I searched for Gertie Glover, and that began by searching for Mary Smith of Belhaven, York County with a date of 1911 because that was the current year, as well as a census year. By the time I finished my search, I had discovered:

Step 2: Mary's marriage record for 27 Dec 1916 to Malcolm McDonald.Results: Mary's Parents: William Henry Smith and Sarah Diana Wass. This rang a memory bell because we have a Rebecca Wass in the Family Tree.

Step 3: Marriage record for William H Smith and Sarah D WassResults: Sarah's parents: Noah Wass and Mary Ann MarshalRealized that Noah and Mary Ann were also the parents of Rebecca Wass, which meant Sarah and Rebecca were sisters, but I hadn't filled out the tree that far.

Rebecca Wass was married to Thomas Barker who was the father of Harry Barker - a familiar name to me because Harry was married to Ethel's Aunt Maggie Glover who I recently posted a photo of with her house.

Final Result: Since Mary Smith was the daughter of Sarah Wass and William Smith, that made her official relationship "1st cousin of husband of aunt". That's such a mouthful, forgive me if, in future, I simply refer to Mary as Ethel's cousin.

Genealogy Note #2 - Gertie Glover

Since I didn't have a Gertie Glover in the family tree yet, I used the search engine of the Ancestry.ca site to search for a Gertrude Glover and found these facts:

Step 1: Search for Birth Record for Gertrude GloverResults: Elizabeth Gertrude Glover born 25 Jan 1887, East Gwillimbury, York, Ontario. Parents William Daniel Glover and Maryette WillsonNote: Gertie is 24 yrs old in this letter

*Although Thomas J. Glover is not in our family tree, we do have 2 x Thomas Glover's.

Step 3: Search for for William Glover and Mary BunceResults: Marriage Record of 20 Feb 1837, Home District (York Co)Groom: William Glover of East GwillimburyBride: Mary Bunce of East GwillimburyNo parents names given on this marriage recordWitnesses: William Miller and John BunceMarried by Publication of Banns, Home District Record Vol #10 1831-1840

Since Thomas Glover is Ethel Nelson's great grandfather, if William is his brother, then Gertie Glover would be Ethel's ***third cousin. Phew.

***Update on Gertie Glover (eff Dec 28, 2013):

After receiving confirmation from another Glover descendent (through my contact page here) that William and Thomas were indeed Glover siblings, I've filled in the Draper Family Tree on ancestry.ca and they have deduced that:Gertie Glover is Ethel's second cousin 1x removed.